Annunciator or indicator.



W. S. WOODRUPF.

ANNUNGIATOR 0R INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3, 1910.

1,026,779. Patented May 21,1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

QVi-tweobc o V {J mve 11 10 a g 5 M0144 J W. S. WOODRUFF.

ANNUNGIATOR 0R. INDICATOR.

- APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3, 1910.

Patented May 21, 1912,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. S. WOODRUPP.

ANNUNGIATOR 0R INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3, 1910.

1,026,779. Patented May 21, 1912;

" 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' a woe Mo "wi l'nezbe I W. S. WOODRUFP.

ANNUNGIATOR OR INDICATOR.

APPLIGATION FILED not. a, 1910.

1,026,779. I Pa en ed May 21, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

. E I I I y 3// Z .1 ,0

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLARD S. WOOlDRUFF, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ANNUNCIATOR OR INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 3, 1910. Serial No. 590,532.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLARD S. VVooo- RUFF, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and

resident of New York, borough of Brooklyn,

county of Kings, and Stateof New York, have made a new and usefulInvention in Annunciators or Indicators, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention is directed particularly to improvements iii-electricallycont-rolled annunciators or indicators of that type in whichpredetermined numbers, letters or and fall by their own weight intoview; secopd,to provide an apparatus of this nature iii whichcont-rolling electroinagncts shall be relatively closely assembled andtheir armatures and releasing attachments so devised,

and arranged as to surely effect the release of any of the numbers,letters, or characters and in any desired order; third, to provide anapparatus of this-nature in which there shall be utilized a plurality ofsets of indieating numbers, letters, or characters so located orarranged with relation to each other and their controllingclectromagnets that two or more like combinations of individual numbersmay be displayed simultaneously; that is to say, so that when anydefinite compound number, embracing two or more of such indicatingnumbers, letters or characters, are released they Wlll appear onopposite or adpicent sides of the apparatus so as to give a wide rangeof observation; in

other words, so that persons located difi'erent-ly with relation to theapparatus may simultaneously see a like indication or call; fourth, toprovide an apparatus of this nature in which the controlling andoperating mechanism proper t'or releasing and setting the individualnumbers, letters or characters may be located at a definite point, as onthe street, in a field, stadium, race-track, or the like, and theelectrically operated controlling mechanism at a relatively distantpoint, both sets of apparatus being connected together by detachableconductors in the nature of a compound cable provided with switch plugconnections atboth ends and all so arranged that the apparatus may beabsolutely portable and set up for use anywhere; fifth, to provide anapparatus like that disclosed in the drawings which is Patented May 21,1912. I

especially applicable for use in carriage and cab call service attheatres, public halls and pr vate residences in densely populatedcities, the compact and portable nature of my improved apparatus makingit especially v useful in this particular.

Prior to my invention electrically controlled annunciators or indicatorshad been devised in which indicating numbers were located upon thesurface of rotatable disks or wheels journaled upon a stationary shaft,there being as many numbers on the surface of each disk as it is desiredto combine with other numbers for the purpose of making a relativelylarge number of calls; as, forinstance, with a combination of ten disksand a combination of numbers running from 0 to 9 upon the surface ofeach disk it was possible to give a relatively large number ofindications. Such an apparatus, however,

.while simple in its structure and mode of operation is open to theobjection that where number disks of relatively large surface area arenecessitated, as for instance in field service or generally in outdoorservice where it is desired to give indications at relatively longdistances, combinations of disk indica tors of this nature necessarilymake the apparatus unwieldy and cumbersome, because of the relativelylarge dimensions of the disks carrying the numbers to be exposed. Myimprovement is designed to overcome this objectionable feature, in thatI can amass a large number of indicating numbers, letters or charactersupon disks of relatively large superficial area and in a relatively verysmall space, as will be appreciated on reading the followingspecification in connection with the accompanying drawings, reference towhich is-now had for a full and clear understanding of the invention.

Figure 1 represents diagrammatically the circuit cont-rolling relationsof my improved apparatus as operatively connected with a push-buttonboard or keyboard and a li1nthe apparatus, illustrated in Fig. 2 as seen"dicating a paratus at the outl ing point I such swi-tch'plug apparatusat eachend of the cable forthus effectually making the a parat'us, asawhole, absolutely portable.

or annunciator disks, the edges of four'su'ch 1 disks beingshown inposition. Fig. 9 is a release view takenthrough Fig. 9 on the line ZZ- 1and as seen looking thereat from left to I I as i that the outer face ofsuch disk is painted thin light conveying fabric widely different mains;Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the indicating apparatusillustrating its I bottom of the drawing, the central atop por- 5 isa'detail plan view of a switch plug apparatus, illustratlng connectionsfor one fiend of a'cable'containing insulated conduc- 't-hereat from thebottom" toward the top 0 so larged' plan view of one of the upper ends.upper end of one of the number disks show- "locking rod which holdsitin its upper or concealed position. Fig. 12-is an enlarged for startingthe motor and the circuit connections running from the motor to a streetmain-or a trolley or other power .service portable nature by disclosingthe fact that it is slidably sustained upona portable I standard. Fig. 3represents a plan view of looking thereat from the top toward the tionbeing broken away at the sides to better illustrate'certain features ofthe operative parts of the controlling or releasingelectromagnets. Fig.4 is an end elevational view as'seen looking at Fig. 2 from left toright.

tors running-between the keyboard apparatus actuated by the operator,and the im where the, atter is located, there ing one ig. 6 is asectional view taken through Fig. 5 on the line X-X and as seen lookinthe'drawing; and, Fig. 7 is a Silliilfll' sectional view of thereceptive ":5? the apparatus for the switch plugs at eachend of thecable and'is particularly illustrated in sectional view on the line YYat the upper left hand side of Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is an enof the groovedguide-ways for the number greatly enlarged plan. view illustrating themanner of adjustingthe guides for the locking or sustaining lugsor earsof the indica-tingnumber disks, so that they will surely assume theirlocked position when lifted to their u per limit and with like certaintybe when their corresponding release magnets are energized. Fig. 10 is asectional medium, such as white silk or other very in color from theblack face. i

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 1 represents thebase of theapparatus which is preferably rectan lar form and detachably suppo bythumbscrews, as shown in- Fig. 2, upon a standard 2 adapted toslidevertically in a portable base 3,. 4 being a locking in for looking it atany desired'height. vhile I have illustrated thispa'rt' of the apparatusas being sustainedupona portable base,such as a tripod, it will beunderstood thatfor. use in connection withhotels, theaters or buildingsgenerally in cities'where large numbers of vehicles are to be called, itmaybe permanently secured. i

to the top of a permanent post, such .as a.

lamp-post, or 'may be secured in any pre- 1 ferred way, de ndent uponthe nature of the use to whic itisto' be, ut.

The reference numerals our 6-6, 6-6,

-3' gnate pairs a of vertically disposed members secured at their lowerends directly to the base 1' and in parallel relation with each otherand 7-7, 7--7, rep resent pairs of horizontally disposed membersextending lengthwise and parallel with the base, the first pair being aproximately midway between the base andt e top' of the apparatus and'thesecond pair located on the tops of the members 6-6, 6-6.

8, 8, 8, 8, represent fourinterconnected metal trusses secured betweenthe members.

6- 6, 6-6 etc., and 9--9 are parallel wooden members located closely adacentto each other and securedto the'aforesaid trusses, the verticalmembers 6-45, 66,.ho1-izontal members 7-7, 77, 9-9 and trusses 8, 8constitutingas a whole the ent-iresupport ing frame of the apparatus;10, 10 being conducting bars constituting a part of the return circuitof the controlling generator secured at the inner edges of the members9, 9, which are made preferably of wood or other insulating material.

.11, 11 are number or character disks made preferably of rectangularstructure and of relatively thin lightsheet metal, the numbers orcharacters indicated beingstenciled or cut out, as illustrated in Fig.2, where two numbers are shownas 5 andfi. It will be noted that thecentral number disks between .5 and 6 have been left out in l l thisview for the purpose of avoiding confusion and better illustratin otherparts.

Each one of these number dis s is provided with a lug or ear 12 and anopening 13, said lug or car as thus constructed constitutingthe meansfor simultaneously guiding it ,to its proper u per or concealedposition, and also 7 .for enab ing it to be held by the operative orcontrol parts of the corresponding electromagnets, as will be describedlater on. It will be noticed that the lugs or cars for the disks of likenumber are located relatively closely to each other when assembled sothat these disks in their upper or suspended position cover each other,while the lugsare disposed in offset relation to each pact-x andespecially economical" as to space (see'. Fig:.' 3)- The bars117 are. ofdifferent lengths wherebyqtheirshouldered;ends- 18* -are disposed in'ofis'et relation-for; engaging 1 '""'witlilthe oitsetting'lugs12ofthe-di'sks.

'The.- ,verticalldisposed members 6-43,.

i ."theouterrpairs' of such-.meinbersrhaving said grooves of suchtnaturwas clearl'yaindicated.

14, the arrangement being. 'such' .that# these'freeslidingsiaetiomfromthe-bottom of'the ap 'mratusitov a conoealedpositionat the top, ass illustrated in Fig.) 2,1 it-beingzt.understood lth'at irtther-actual instrument. these f disks are normally.- locatedbehind ani'opaque surface'in acase. i 15,15,123, are p'airsjofelectromagnetssecured to the trusses 8, 8, 8,8, as illustrated j=-25Figs; 3-and-4,-. all in- =a common. plane near "the "top .-,of theapparatus," there being one {such eectromagnetfiioreach numbervdiska.These' electrom'a etsy arefprovided ':with the usual armature. evers{1t3 '16; 17-, 17 ,being locking rods- 'pivotally".supported at theupperends of eachof such armature levers and eachprovided with a beveledlocking shoulder 18 at its free end ildapbed. to hold its correspondingnumber 'disk 11 in its 86-- uppr or concealed 'positionby reasonof itsfrictional orlockingrelation in" connection with its corresponding lugor ear 12. when it extends through the opening 13, .as will be clearlyapparent on inspection 'of'Figs. 10 and 11. 19 and 20 are pairs ofmetallic bars which y are connected together and. to horizontallydisposed bars 25, -extending across the entire apparatus at the-topthereof (see Figs. 4, 9 and 10)- there being one pair of such.'bars' foreach of the six sets of electromagnets shown in Fig. 3. The bar 19 is"provided with diagonally disposed notches 21 and the bar 20 is providedwith correspondingdiagonally disposed slots 22 have ing beveledshoulders (see Fig. 10) it being the function of these correspondingnotches and slots to act as guide-ways for the holding 111,953 or cars12 when .they are forced 55 upward into their concealed locked position,

as will bedescribed in connection with the;

description of the mode of operation. The bars 20 at their opposite endsare provided -with slots 23 and the bars 19 at their op- 0 posite endsare provided with adjusting screws 24, 24 for adjusting the widths ofthe openings through which the lugs 12 are to pass.

It will be apparent on an examination of 6 the central portion of Fig. 3of the drawings other,- such an arrangementbeing very-comf lll the?enlarged view Fig. 8,: by the number'- numberfdiskswhemiir-ipositionrwill have a:

' T A AI LE coPv that the lo'cking rods '17 connected =-to the; armatureleverslfi varyin-length from left/ '72: to right and from rightto leftrespectively. incbothwse'ts, and on an examinationofFi-gi; 9. that theguide way openings between the bars-:19 and 20 are correspondingly.disposed, I and-'also-rthat 'the lugs- 12. arearranged in.likemannersothat bysuch dispositions I.

am enabledZ to closely suspend a relatively largenumber of number disks:in-La relw 5 *tively small r spacebothlongitudinallyi and 4 all. ofthese-parts are. correspondingly ar- 'ranged j In;the-correspondingparts-of the apparatus-illustrated .in Fig. 3, there.being 3 in this figure-"ofthe drawings thirtysix of the controllingmagnets .15} and with the-number disk'sfiand operative partsall..-oorrespondingly assembled, so that all'of- 'th'ese parts-being.arranged in'duplicate the r seinecombination number will be displayed onopposite sides ofltheapparatus) at the sametimeafterwtheproper numbersof the combinationhave been-released; j

127, 27 are-horizontallydisposed lifting bars which normally; rest uponrubber butters- 28, .285, 28*:28,.there": being one such liftingb'arzateach' end of theapparatusand' v operativelyconnected at theiropposite ends through: links 29,- 29: and turn buckles B0, 30- 9swithfour chains 31, 31, 31', 31- running up 1- ward and over pairs ofpulleys 32, 32 atthe" opposite sides and ends of the apparatus andinward through additional pairs of pulleys 33, 33 where they areconnected 'to two single chains running over additional pulleys 34,35-and then to a single chain downward-to the upper end ofa link 136 i Iwhich in turn is connected to .ao'counterweight 37 at the end "of anarm-39 carried i by a gear-wheel 40 journaled upon a shaft in the top ofa standard 41 secured. to-the' base. 1, said gear-wheelbeing inmesh-with" a worm 42 carried by a shaft 43 connected to the armature ofan electric motor M normally out of circuit; I

44 is a rotatable arm secured at one end ofthe shaft which supportsthe-gear-wheel 40 and 45 is a circuitbreaking pin carried. I at the freeend of said arm. v

46 and 50 (see Figs. 1 and 2) are .eontroL- ling magnets for placing themotor M in circuit with the current mains W', Wot the I Q street serviceor other source of relatively high potential energy and 47 and -51are'HO ass? AVAlLABLE COPY 53 is an individual push-button foreiiectafterfthe-numbers have been properly dis-- ing the restoration ofthe number disks played.

' 54illustrates the casing of a switch plug terminal embracing aninsulating base 55 for the conducting plugs 56 electrically con-' neetedto the ends of the individual conductors of the cable C. 57 is a similarinsulatingbase secured directly to one end of the apparatusas'illustrated in Fig. 4 and adapted tosbe""electrically connected withthe circuits of the system through yielding terminals 58, 58. theseconductors and terminals being illustrated diagrammatically in Fig.1 ofthe drawings;

59, 59 represent four metallic standards secured directly to the top ofthe base 1 and -connectedtogether at their tops by cross means ofsupport for three electric lamps bars, as shown, said parts constituting1, 1, 1, which lamps are secured directly to a transverse strip ofinsulating material, 38, and also for translucent glass plates 60, thellfiups being located between the plates as clearly shown in Fig. 4 soas to disclose the released number combinations of numbers number disks.

on opposite sides, aswill be more clearly a house circuitor trolleycircuit or other source of electrical power supply operat-ivelyconnected through branch conductors '21:, 20, running in multiplerelation to the lamps 1, 1, 1 and to the motor M, but normally open inthe motor branch at the con tact point of the armature 47. u. #1 21:

etc., 'w 7.6 w etc., represent the respective sets of conductors runningfrom the controlling battery B to and through the controlling magnets 15when the proper'eirunits are closed at the key-board, there beingillustrated a sullicient number of circuits upon this figure of thedrawings to ef- 'fectthe display ofany combination of numbers which maybe utilized from the 18 push buttons shown on the key-board 52,

magnet 50 to make electrical contact from it being understood that thenecessary magnets and operative circuit connections for those circuitsrepresented by the letters 71: to 'H inclusive are identical. in nllrespects: to those disclosed at the upper end of Fig. 1.. 7' being acommon return circuit for all of the circuits crmnccted to thewudiuatiug bars 10. 10 at the top of the apparatus and to the negativepole of the batter-v B.

I will now (l(:-f 'l.l the owl-alien of the apparatus as disclosed in thdrau ngst-- Suppose for lllStIll'lt't'. :l dcsu-wl to main- 3 display ofthe number 7100 on both side: of the apparatus simultaneously; that ist( say, the front and rear of theapparatu: illustrated in Fig. 2, inwhich event tht numerals 1 0 0 will appear wher dropped from theirconcealed position it the manner hereinafter described. The op eratorfirst pushes the unit button in the top row and indicated by the numeralf1 vstood that unit disk No. l on the left of the front face, as seenlooking at' Fig. 2, will be released and will fall-t0 its lower orexposed position, and also that the similar unit disk Nofil on the rearof the apparatus will be released and fall to its lower or exposedposition, it being obvious that-the numbers on that side will read fromleft toright to a person who can view it from that side only; while thenumbers on the front side will also read from left to right to a personon that side. The operator next pushes the first tens r button marked 0in the second vertical row and closes in a similar manner the circuitthrough the central conductor .10 to the upper and lower central magnets15, 15, thus releasing the tens number disks 0 on opposite sides of theapparatus. -He then closes the last or hundreds push button marked Othrough the upper conductor 20 and energizes the upper left hand andlower right hand magnets 15, releasingthe last 0 disks so that on bothsides of the apparatus the number is exposed, being readable fromleft toright from each of the respective sides; After at: alarm has beensounded either through ah electric gong qpcratively controlled by apush-button on the key-board and circuit through the battery B, or by aborn. or in any preferred manner designed to attra t the attention oithe party to be called. the operator restores the six disks thus (b-op.=ed by operating the push-button 53.; rousing the contact at the end ofthe armature 51 oi the battery B through the magnet 50 by way of theconductor in through magnet 46, contacts 49 and 48 to the startingpoint. 'hen the magnet 50 is energized it obviously energizes thearmature 5i and holds the circuit closed. When the magnet 46 wasenergized the armature 47 was drawn to it, forward contact so that acircuit was closed from the current mains \V, W through thr restoringmotor M, thus starting the motoi in oj'ltlelllon. As the armature ot'the motel rotates it drives the screw 42 and hence the gear-wheel 40meshing therewith in the direction of the arrows (see Figs. 1 and 2);consequently, the counter-weight 37 passes to the left and carries withit the link 36 drawing downward the chains 31 over the pulley 34, whichchain, acting through the interconnecting branches thereof and over thepulleys 34, 35, 32 and 33, lifts the horizontally disposed'lifting bars27 carrying with them the three exposed number disks that had beendropped by the operation above described. As the counter-weight 37 movesto the left it aids in the lifting of the number disks and finally whenthe lugs 12 of the disks reach their upper limit they are guided throughtheir guide-ways or slots 22, 22 between the adjustable bars 19 and 20,ultimately being locked by the locking shoulders 18 at the outer ends ofthe rods 17 carried by the armatures 16 of the releasing magnets 15. Atthe instant that the number disks were thus restored in their lockedconcealed position the locking pin-45 on the rotating arm 44 interruptedthe motor circuit at the circuit breaking arm 48 and the apparatusassumed the position shown in Fig. 2 with the motor normally out ofcircuit and the push-button 53 in its normal or released position, owingto the denergizing, of the magnet 50.

- It Wlll be understood that in view of the fact that the number disks11 are painted black on their outer surfaces and are covered on'theinner surfaces with white silk or equivalenttranslucent material, asshown in .Fig. 12, the numbers displayed will be.

equally visible at night by reason of the light from the electric lamps1, as well as in the day time by reason of the contrast of the white anddark surfaces. It will also be apparent that any compound number of suchnumber disks and operating or controlling appliances may be assembled inthe manner disclosed, it being only necessary to increase the numbers ofsuch appliances in a, manner which will at once be obvious in 'view ofthe illustration and description hereinbefore made.

I do not limit my invention to the especial details of constructionillustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinbefore described, asobviously a number of the features thereof may be materially departedfrom and still come within my claims hereinafter made, the essence of myinvention lying in the construction of an appliance in the mannerdescribed so that great compactness of parts is bad and speed 0 in theoperation thereof is attained, and

that the apparatus may either be portable or stationary, in accordancewith the necessities of the use to which it is to be put. Nor do'I limitmyself to the operation of the indicating apparatus hereinbeforedisclosed electrically, as a number of the features thereof embody suchgeneric principles that in the case of portable devices where theoperator is located upon the street, or in the open, the individualnumbers may be released manuallyby mechanical means, or directly byhand, and reset by rotating the motor shaft manually, this method ofcontrol being obviously within the scope of a number of the claimshereinafter. It is also obvious that for outdoor use in such places asrace-tracks and the \like, where grandstands are of relatively greatlength, the apparatus might be so constructed as to give simultaneousindications on adjacent sides thereof; that is to say, the apparatusmight be placed'with one of its corners toward the center of thegrandstand, so that people looking in each direction toward theadjoining faces could have a proper View of the numbers indicated saidweighted lever and the movable memher, and electrical means forrestoring said weighted lever to normal position, substantially asdescribed.

2. An annunciator or indicator comprising a suitable casing; a pluralityof character disks mounted to have vertical movement in said casing;devices for holding the disks individually in raised position;electrically controlled means for actuating the holding devicesindividually to selectively release said disks; and means for raisingthe released disks comprising a vertically movable bar, 'a weightedlever fulcrumed in the casing, a flexible connection between saidweighted lever and the vertically mov--.

able bar, an electric motor connected to actuate said lever, and adevice associated with said lever for automatically cutting off themotor current, scribed.

3. An annunciator or indicator compris-' ing a suitable casing; aplurality of groups of character disks, said groups disposed in oppositepairs in said casing, the disks of each group arranged in close verticalrelation; vertically disposed guide-ways in said casing provided withgrooves within which said disks have vertical movement; aplusubstantially as dever whereby to move said bars to raise thereleased disks; an clectricmotor mounted in the casing; and a gearingbetween said 15 weighted lever and the motor whereby to restore saidWeighted lever to normal position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of 2 two subscribing Witnesses.

in WILLARD S. \VOODRUFF.

Vvitnesses:

. G. J. KINTNER, F. KEATING.

